"Harry! Ron!" Christianna squealed as they entered Renee's flat. "I'm so happy that you came! Where's Hermione?"

"She's not well today." Harry said.

"Aww, poor thing." Christianna pouted. "Well, we'll have to send her a slice of the awesome pie that my sister made. It is delicious. You might find Neville over there. I think I saw him haunting it."

"Okay then," Harry said. "How are you feeling about heading off tomorrow?"

"I'm nervous." Christianna laughed. "But I think it will be a good change for me."

"Glad to hear it." Harry said. "Where's Ginny?"

"I think I may have seen her and Renee hiding behind the liquor cabinet."

"It's much too early for that!" Harry said disapprovingly.

"I guess, Harry." Christianna said, as she directed Harry to where he might find his girlfriend leaving George and Ron to talk.

"How's Hermione?" George asked.

"She's fine." Ron answered. "Just not as social as she used to be."

"That's understandable," George said, "What with her being abducted and all."

"Yeah."

"Hermione was one of lucky ones." George said.

"What do you mean?"

"Most girls that get kidnapped by deranged men that are obsessed with them don't make it home alive."

Ron didn't say anything, so George continued.

"I mean, there's a lot he could have done to her. She's lucky, she is."

"If you say so," was all Ron could say without betraying Hermione's secret.

"She couldn't make it today?"

"Still sick?"

"Yeah."

"She's been sick for a while. Has she seen a healer?"

"No, she won't go." Ron said. "You know how Hermione can be sometimes."

"Yeah," George laughed. "I do."

Christianna and Neville stood in the kitchen; Christianna had a troubled look on her face.

"What's wrong, Christi?"

"It's just, this past month I've had so much fun with you, and now I'm leaving."

"Hogwarts is a great place, Christi." Neville said, trying to cheer her up.

"I don't see how anything can be great if you're not there, Neville."

Neville blushed. She always said things like this to him and they made him feel special. For the past month, Christianna and Neville had spent nearly every day together. Christianna broke things off with Draco, much to his dismay. She had to be honest and tell him that she met someone else, who she instantly fell for. The first week, Draco refused to accept it, but after she threatened to hex him to hell he gave it up.

"I'll see you at your Hogsmead visits, at Christmas and at the quidditch games," Neville said.

"Are you saying that you'll be just hunky-dory without me?"

"No," Neville said, resisting the urge to laugh. "I'll miss you terribly."

"You better miss me, Longbottom."

"I will, Williams." Neville said and he pulled Christianna into a hug. "I'm going to miss you a lot."

Christianna hugged him back tightly, not wanting to let him go. She didn't want to leave him behind. But, she knew that if this was real, then time away wouldn't change it. She knew that she had to go anyway. The only reason that her parents allowed her to stay in Briton was to go to school. If she skipped out on it, she would probably never see Neville again.

***

Hermione lay in bed. Not wanting to get up. She had been there for God knows how long. All she knew was that it was nightfall. Mrs. Weasley had brought her tea and soup, and that was all she could stomach. She had slept for the greater part of the day. She hadn't really had the time to miss Ron and he was back. She could hear him running up the stairs. She heard him knocking.

"Hermione? Are you sleeping?" He asked.

"No," she replied to the door and he opened it. He wore a big smile on his face at the sight of her.

"How was your day, Love?"

"It was okay," Hermione said. "Your mother wouldn't let me do anything for myself."

"That sounds like Mum." Ron chuckled. "Hermione?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think that you'll be able to make it to Kings Cross tomorrow?"

"Yes, Ron," Hermione said. "I'm not missing that."

"Harry brought you some of Renee's cheesecake."

"Tell Harry that he can have it." Hermione groaned. The very thought of cheesecake made her stomach turn.

"Okay," Ron said as he sat on the bed and put his arms around her.

"How was the party?" she asked.

"It was okay," Ron said. "It would have been better if you were well enough to come."

"I'm sorry that I couldn't come." Hermione said softly, closing her eyes as Ron ran his fingers through her hair.

"It's okay, Hermione," Ron said. "Everyone understands."

"But I'll be at the train station tomorrow." She said groggily

"I know you will." Ron whispered and he kissed her cheek as she fell asleep. Ron slipped from underneath her and went back downstairs. He found Harry and Ginny sitting at the kitchen table speaking in a low tone.

"Honestly, Harry, I agree with Ron."

"Not you, too," Harry said, sounding disappointed.

"Ron has a point; she's been acting very pregnant lately."

"She just got home from being kidnapped and raped!" Harry said intensely. "I think she's depressed."

"Well isn't this a jolly discussion." Ron spat as he entered the room looking as though he'd just swallowed something sour.

"Ron, I think that you should talk to Hermione." Ginny told him.

"I don't want to make things worse for her."

"It really can't get much worse, Ron." Harry chimed in.

"I'll talk to her when the right time arises." Ron said. "And, that's all I want to hear on the subject."

Harry and Ginny both put up their hands, signaling that they would comply completely.

"I'm going to school tomorrow so you won't be hearing anything out of me." Ginny said. Harry just gave Ron a look.

"Okay, good." Ron said. "Oh, Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"Hermione said that you can have her cheesecake."

"I thought Hermione liked cheesecake." Harry responded.

"She does," Ron said. "She just doesn't want it."

Ginny raised an eyebrow at Ron.

"I don't want to hear it, Ginny."

***

Ginny and Christianna said tearful goodbyes to their friends and family the next morning. They were on their way to Hogwarts for the next school year. Once they had gotten there, Christianna was sorted in Professor McGonagall's office. She got Gryffindor, of course. She was rushed off to the Great Hall where she sat by Ginny and watched the first years get sorted.

"Everyone at home will be happy to hear that you got into Gryffindor, Christi." Ginny told her.

"I'm just glad that I'm in the same House as you." Christianna responded.

"You're going to love being here." Ginny told her. "It's a great school."

"All it sounds like to me is a lot of rules and no TV." Christianna said, already feeling homesick.

"Oh, you'll survive." Ginny laughed.

Christianna just looked around. Everyone looked so at home. She hoped that she would develop that or she would have a long four months ahead of her. She missed her sister, she missed George, but most of all she missed Neville. How did Ginny do it?

***

Another month flew by since Ginny and Christianna left for Hogwarts. And as Hermione's conditions worsened, so did Ron's assumptions. It was very clear to him now that he was right and he felt the need to tell her. But, he didn't want to upset her, so he elected to keep it to himself. She would talk about it when she was ready. Little did he know that Hermione had already discovered what he was dreading and was trying to think of a way to tell him. She wasn't really sure, since she hadn't gone to the doctor to find out. Thank God for small wonders. This wonder was in the form of Renee.

Hermione had finally gotten out of bed to go to work on Monday and was feeling horrible by the time it was over. She was stepping out of the office which wasn't far from Diagon Alley. Since it was so close, Hermione decided to go into Flourish and Blotts to find a book to calm her nerves. When she went inside, she saw Renee.

"Hi, Hermione!" she greeted giving Hermione a hug when she approached her.

"Hello, Renee." Hermione said.

"How have you been? I haven't seen you in a while."

"I'm doing fine." Hermione said. "I haven't really been out of the house lately."

"I heard that you've taken ill."

"Something like that." Hermione nodded. "I was actually wondering if I could talk to you."

"Sure thing." Renee said and she led Hermione at the bookstore. "We can talk at my house. George is at work, it'll be private."

"Oh, thank you." Hermione said and they Apperated to Renee's flat. Renee guided Hermione to the couch.

"Can I get you anything, Hermione?"

"Water if you have it."

Renee tossed Hermione a bottle of water from the refrigerator. Renee got a glass of grape juice for herself and sat next to Hermione.

"Okay, what's up?"

"Renee, I think I'm pregnant." Hermione said.

"Whoa." Renee said. "I wasn't expecting you to say that at all."

"I want to go to the clinic and find out for sure," Hermione continued, " I don't want to go alone, but I could never ask Ron."

"I'll go with you." Renee offered.

"Really?" Hermione responded, taken by surprise.

"Yeah, I know of a private, little clinic in Muggle London we can go to. They won't even ask you what your name is." Renee told her, glad that she could help.

"Wow, Renee, thank you." Hermione said already feeling better about the situation.

"Come on, let's go before it closes." Renee said grabbing Hermione's hand. Renee directed Hermione to her car.

"I didn't know that you dive." Hermione said.

"Well I don't do much driving in wizzarding London, do I?"

"I've never driven a car before," Hermione confessed.

"I can teach you, Hermione." Renee said as she started the car and both girls strapped in. "It's not hard."

"Okay," Hermione smiled. Renee drove them to a little clinic in Muggle London. Renee showed Hermione how to sign in and Hermione told the nurse what she was there for. Thankfully, they were having a slow day and Hermione was seen only minutes after they got there. The nurse that called Hermione seemed very pleasant. She sat Hermione in a little room that seemed a little impersonal, but she didn't intend on staying for that long. Renee stood quietly next to her.

"So you're here for a pregnancy test?"

"Yes."

"Okay, well, I'm going to take this needle," the nurse explained to Hermione showing her a not so small syringe , "and draw your blood."

"Okay." Hermione said. Thankfully she wasn't afraid of needles. The nurse pierced Hermione's skin in the crook of her arm and Hermione winced a bit. The little vial at the end filled to the top with Hermione's blood and she felt a bit uncomfortable. Hermione turned her head so she didn't have to watch. When the nurse was done, she sent the girls back into the waiting room.

"The results will be done in just a few minutes." The nurse said as the girls walked away. All Hermione could bring herself to do was nod. They sat in the waiting room and Hermione sighed and sunk into the chair.

"It'll be fine, Hermione." Renee said, taking Hermione's hand.

"I don't know, Renee." Hermione whispered. "What am I going to say to Ron?"

"Just tell him," Renee said. "It's not like he's going to be mad if you are pregnant."

Hermione just nodded. She couldn't tell Renee exactly what is that she actually was afraid of. How could she tell Ron that she was pregnant with another man's child? A man that she wanted nothing to with. She just wanted to forget everything that happened. How could she forget if she had this child to remind her of him every day for the rest of her life? While Hermione pondered this, the nurse came back with a yellow envelope and handed it to Hermione.

"Here are your results, dear." She said.

"Have you seen them?" Hermione asked her.

"No, it's against policy for me to look at results." She told her. Hermione looked disappointed.

"Thank you," Hermione said and she left with Renee leading the way.

When they got in the car they strapped in but Renee didn't start the car. They both just sat there and stared at the envelope. Hermione attempted to open the envelope, but she couldn't do it. She handed it to Renee.

"You do it." Hermione said.

Renee took it and opened it. She hesitantly pulled the stapled sheets of papers from the envelope. She scanned the papers until she found what she was looking for.

"Hermione?" Renee said.

"Yes?" Hermione answered, not even looking at her.

"You're pregnant."

Hermione didn't outwardly react. She just sat there in her seat not moving.

"Hermione, are you okay?"

"No, Renee, I'm not." Hermione said in a monotone.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Renee asked.

"No," Hermione said, "I'd just really like to go home."

"Okay, do you want to ride to my flat with me?"

"I don't mind," Hermione told her. The ride back to Renee's flat seemed to only take seconds. Her mind was swimming with the most recent news. What would she tell Ron? How would he react?

When they arrived at Renee's apartment, Renee hugged Hermione goodbye.

"If you need anything, Hermione, I'm an Apperation away."

"Thank you, Renee." Hermione said, "You've really helped me."

"Any time." Renee answered. And Hermione went home.

She Apperated directly to Ron's room. He hadn't come home yet. Hermione took off her slacks and changed into pajama bottoms. She put the envelope on Ron's desk, got into bed, and went to sleep. She awoke to Ron's pacing footsteps. She must have been sleeping for at least two hours. He had already changed out of his work robes.

"Ron?" she called. Ron turned around so fast he thought that he gave himself whiplash.

"Hey, did I wake you?" Ron asked as he went to sit next to her. Hermione sat up.

"No," she lied.

"How was your day?"

"Work was okay." Hermione said. "But I went to a clinic in Muggle London."

"What's that?"

"It's kind of like a healer's office."

"I see."

"Anyway, Ron," Hermione took a deep breath. "I took a pregnancy test."

Ron didn't respond right away. So she thought so, too. Ron thought to himself.

"What did it say?" he finally asked. Tears started free-falling down Hermione's face. She didn't want to say it out loud. She thought that maybe if she kept it to herself, then it wouldn't be real. Ron put his arms around her, already knowing what she was going to say. He had hoped and prayed that this wouldn't happen. But it did. He was going to kill Krum if it was the last thing he ever did.

"Ron," Hermione choked through tears, "It came… it came back… it came back positive."

Hermione cried so hard, Ron thought that she might break. He tightened his grip on her and allowed her to soak his shirt with her tears. He was silent. He didn't know what to say. All he felt was anger for Krum and worry for Hermione. All he wanted to do was hold her all night. All night and forever. Hermione lifted her head from his chest and began ranting.

"I'll have to go somewhere in Muggle Briton and have an abortion. I'll be out of work for at least a week. I might lose my job! This is horrible, Ron. I really don't want an abortion, but I'll have to, won't I? Oh, Ron, what is going to happen?"

"It's okay, Hermione." Ron said, at last.

Hermione looked up at him, her face shining with tears.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that it's okay." Ron told her. "You don't need one of those abortion things. Those are horrible."

"But, Ron-…"

"But nothing." Ron said sternly. "That baby didn't ask for this, and it won't thank you for killing it either."

"What am I supposed to do with his baby?"

"We'll raise it, Hermione."

"I could never ask you to raise another man's child, Ron."

"You didn't," Ron said. "I demand to."

"Ron…"

"Hermione, I love you, no matter what predicament befalls you. I am going to stick with you no matter what. Who cares if you're pregnant? We'll tell the family it's mine. They all think that's what we're doing anyway, who'll know?"

"What about Harry and Ginny?"

"What about them?" Ron said. "It'll be a secret between the four of us. No one will ever find out, not even my parents."

"Oh, Ron!" Hermione said, jumping on him so hard that he fell backwards onto the bed. "This is the most wonderful thing that you have ever done for me!"

Ron just held her tightly.

"How could I ever thank you?"

"Give me a daughter with eyes as big and brown as yours?"

"What if it's a boy?"

"We'll discuss that if the time comes." Ron said, flashing Hermione a crooked smile.

Hermione let her lips fall onto his and kissed him with a passion that he had yet to experience. She slid her fingers into his hair and he did the same to her. Ron tilted until he was lying over her, propped up on his elbows. Hermione tried something she had never done before. She grabbed his shirt by the hem and pulled it off of him.

"What are you doing, Hermione?" Ron asked, a little taking aback. Hermione sat up just a little and whispered in his ear.

"I'll be damned if I'm going to have a baby with a man that I've never had sex with."

All the blood from all of his body fled to the center of him at her words.

"Are you sure about this, Hermione?"

"I've never been so sure of anything in all my life, Ron."

"Because we don't have to do this."

"I know, Ron." Hermione whispered.

"We can wait until it's the right time."

"Are you trying to talk me out of this?"

"No," Ron said, "I just don't want you to feel obligated. I mean, Krum took something from you that's really special. Something that's meant for you to give to someone special. I don't want to be like him."

Hermione looked up at him with tears in her eyes. She leaned up and kissed him with all she had.

"You could never be like him, Ron," she said softly. "I'm consciously choosing to give you the best of me."

Ron shook his head.

"Hermione, you gave the best of yourself to me a long time ago."

"What was that?"

"Your love, Hermione." Ron said. "I can't think of anything better than that."

Hermione smiled at him and kissed his lips. She allowed herself to lie back onto the pillows and he followed her. For the first time, he really allowed his hands to travel around her body like he did in his dreams. He slid the fabric from her shirt over her head and tossed it to the floor. Hermione found Ron's belt and began to undo it's buckle. She undid the button and zipper beneath it and, with his help, got rid of his pants. Ron found the elastic band of her pajama bottoms and pulled them off of her lower half, caressing her legs as his hands traveled lower and lower, until he slipped them off her feet. Ron broke their kiss and began kissing her neck he took mental memos of where she liked being kissed the most. He kissed down her chest until he came in contact with her bra.

"Is it okay, Hermione?" he asked.

"It's okay, Ron." She breathed.

Ron slipped has hands behind her back and undid the clasp that held her bra together. He pulled it from her body and kissed her chest again. He kissed one of her breasts while he held the other in his hand. Hermione gave soft little moans from under him. Her moans caused him to open his eyes. There lay Hermione, right there underneath him, moaning to his touch. This turned him on more than that one time that she had fallen in the water. If at all possible, he became harder than he was to start off with.

"Hermione?" he whispered.

"Hmm?" she asked, eyes still closed.

"You are so beautiful. All of you is beautiful."

"Thank you, Ron," Hermione said, opening her eyes. "So are you."

Ron smiled at her and kissed her lips again before continuing his exploration of her frame. Ron found her stomach and kissed it with a smile on his lips. They were going to have a family and he was happy about it. Hermione knew what he was thinking and brushed his cheek with the back of her fingers. Ron began to leave a shadow of kissed behind as he descended down her stomach. Once he came in contact with her underwear, Hermione felt his fingers grab hold of the elastic and pause. Ron looked up at her and before he had the chance to ask her, she distinctly nodded. Ron pulled and was exposed to the most sensitive part of her whole body. Hermione kicked off her panties while Ron admired her. Ron got very close to it and dared himself to kiss it. He felt Hermione wriggle about when he did so. He had often heard stories in the quidditch locker rooms that girls really like guys going down on them, so he decided to try it. He thrust his tongue from his mouth and licked the inside of her. Hermione gave a very audible gasp. Noting that Hermione fell into the category, he kept at it. As he allowed his tongue to search her, he noticed that Hermione had this button that got an extra rise out of her. Ron took it, very gently, between his front teeth and moved them back and forth. It took all that Hermione had in her not to scream. Seeing as how neither of them had put a silencing charm on the room, if she was loud enough she could be heard. Ron took careful notice of the effect that it had on her as Hermione grabbed his shoulder and pulled at it, signaling for him to stop. She took the sheet and wiped his glistening mouth.

"What's the matter?" he asked. "Was I doing it wrong?"

"No!" Hermione laughed. "You are very wonderful at that, Ron."

"Then why did you stop me?" he raised.

Hermione didn't answer him. She pulled his face to hers and kissed his lips gently. Losing himself in her lips, he forgot all about her evading his question. He let his hands rove her body. As did she until her fingers came into contact with his boxers and she realized that she was the only naked one. Well, that won't do. She thought to herself and yanked them off of him. Ron was caught off guard, but pleased at her initiative all the same. He was flat out dumbfounded when she took his erection in her hand and began to stroke it up and down. He had half a mind to ask her where she learned it from, but then he'd have to explain himself. So, he just decided to let bygones be bygones and enjoy what was being done to him. At one moment, both of them opened their eyes at the same time and they both knew what the other was thinking: I'm ready, are you? Hermione nodded to him. Ron took his stiffness in his hand and positioned himself at her entrance and looked at her again.

"Are you sure that this is what you want, Hermione?" Ron asked her.

"This has been all that I've wanted for a very long time, Ron." She responded.

With that, Ron pushed himself into her as slowly as he could. He had to stop for a second to get over how damn good it felt. Once he started again, he tried to go as slowly as possible. He didn't want to overdo it and hurt Hermione, who's breathing had gone completely uneven.

"Hermione? Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine, Ron." She responded breathlessly.

"Do you want me to stop?"

"No," Hermione breathed. "Don't stop."

Ron took what she said as extra initiative to hold on as long as possible, but he found it so difficult. He began to wonder if Hermione could read his mind because she started talking along those same lines.

"Ron, this being our first time, I don't expect you to last long." she told him softly. "We have the rest of our lives to perfect this."

No sooner had she said this, did he began to quicken his pace. Hermione's uneven breathing became quick little gasps. Not long after he decided to speed up the rapidity Hermione felt him spill into her. They lied there together for a few minutes before moving or even speaking. After a while, Hermione took her wand from the bedside table and cast a cleaning charm over them and put it back. She felt Ron's arms take hold of her. He rested his head on her chest.

"Hermione?"

"Yes, Ron?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

"I'm going to love you for the rest of my life, Hermione, I promise."

"I believe you, Ron." She whispered.

"I'll never hurt you or make you run away again." He said, tears beginning to fall from his eyes onto Hermione's chest.

"Ron…"

"I'm so sorry, Hermione." Ron said. "Everything is completely my fault. I never should have said those things to you."

"I know, Ron." Hermione cooed, running her fingers through his sun kissed tresses. "It's okay. And I shouldn't have left. If I would have stayed home, then it wouldn't have happened. I'm sorry."

Ron didn't reply, He just grabbed the blanket that had long since been dropped and lie forgotten on the floor. He draped it over the two of them and lay content in the warmness that he shared with Hermione. He had the urge to tell Hermione that he wanted to marry her, but he knew that now wasn't the time. He just lay at ease feeling her chest rise and fall as she inhaled and exhaled breath. He began counting her heartbeats, and when he got to about seventy-two he fell asleep.